Gregory Frederick “Faye” Image 3 Watford 1922

Description

Pinner born left back (he was versatile and could play in other positions such as outside left) Frederick “Faye” Gregory joined Watford from local junior club Pinner in September 1911, making his Watford debut in The Southern League as an amateur in a 2-0 win over West Ham United the same month, before turning professional at the same time as his younger brother Val, already on Watford’s books, two months later in November 1911. He was a member of their Southern League Championship winning team of 1914-15, indeed he scored the goal which clinched a 3-2 win at Gillingham, and with it the Championship.

Despite losing four seasons to the First World War, during which he continued to play wartime football for the club, he resumed with Watford when peacetime football returned in 1919. When Watford joined The Football League, Gregory played in Watford’s inaugural League match at Queen’s Park Rangers in August 1920, and scored once (against Plymouth at their old Cassio Road ground that October) in 168 Football League outings. Faye remained on Watford’s books until May 1929 despite having played his last first team match exactly three years earlier when already nearly 40 years old. He scored 17 goals in 333 Southern League, Football League and FA Cup matches and in addition played 47 Wartime games for The Hornets.  He was also Watford’s Club Captain for three seasons.

Gregory was the eldest of four brothers all of whom played at some level for Watford Football Club. Val Gregory is featured elsewhere on the site being captain of the Wolverhampton Wanderers team that were FA Cup Finalists in 1921, and two further brothers, Allen played for Watford reserves during 1920-21 without making a first team appearance while Owen played wartime football for The Hornets.